Men Basic skills help

[GmanMom]

Good afternoon, my little man is 9 and started basic gymnastics classes about 1.5 years ago and was quickly asked to be part of a team. He competed level 4 last year and will be competing level 4 again this year. We are fine with him doing level 4 again vs rushing and pushing him up. My question is they said he needs work on basic skills. I know he struggles with handstands and I’m sure there is more. We are a competitive family my husband and I workout in the gym 6 days a week, all our kids have been in a gym since little babies. So it’s hard for us to see him struggle. Of course being 9 he goes to school all day, gymnastics three nights a week plus saturdays. He likes to go fishing and play videos games when he’s not doing so that. We don’t want to push him to workout and practice during his time off (because he doesn’t get that much to be a kid) but we want him to grow and succeed as a gymnast because he really does love gymnastics. He just doesn’t have that drive right now to practice on his own time, he would rather play Nintendo.

I know I sound like a “stage mom” which I never wanted to be. Any advice?

 

[raenndrops]

Let him be a kid. This is his journey. If he decides he really wants to advance, he will put in the work. If he isn't ready for that yet, then he isn't ready.

 

[Dahlialover]

Kids have to stay in the sport to progress in the sport. Pushing extra practice at home is a sure-fire way to hasten the end of a gymnastics career. It’s not your sport and his achievements (or lack thereof) are not yours. I’m as guilty of meddling as any typical well-meaning over-involved parent, so I understand how hard it is to relinquish control. But that’s the right thing to do. Good luck!

 

[NutterButter]

Is he really struggling? Repeating a level isn't at all unusual and especially if he's newish to the sport (sounds like he went directly from rec classes to team with little or no time spent in preteam...if this is the case it's not surprising he needs another year to solidify basics).

As far as his drive - I wouldn't worry about it that either. He loves gymnastics right now so leave it at that and see where this year goes. He's still relatively new to the sport and he's only 9.